Dust-sealed panel-mounted socket assembly



Aug. 5, 1952 H, HaCLAYTON 2,606,227

DUST-SEALED PANEL-MOUNTED socxm' ASSEMBLY Filed June 28, 1950 4 INVENTOR. a aldfl 72,

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 DUST-SEALED PANEL-MOUNTED SOCKET ASSEMBLY Harold H. Clayton, Logansport, Ind., assignor to Essex Wire Corporation, Logansport, Ind., a

corporation of Michigan Application June 28, 19-50, Serial No. 170,900

1 Claim.

My present invention is concerned with a new and improved socket assembly for mounting electrical leads to a mounting panel or the like.

More particularly my invention is directed to a new, improved, and simplified socket assembly of the type adapted to support a small incandescent light bulb or the like, such as an automobile dashboard or tail light; the socket being removably connected to a mounting panel member by a resilient snap-in means.

In the mounting of automobile tail lights, head lights, dash lights, or the like, it is often desirable to have the supporting electrical connection sockets for such lights removable from the mounting panel so that the light. bulb more conveniently may be removed for replacement by simultaneously removing the supporting socket and the light bulb. Additionally, it is desirable to have a substantially dust free connection between the socket and mounting panel, and between the socket and the incoming electrical supply conductor; especially so is this true with tail or head light mountings inasmuch as road dirt and dust is very detrimental to the light reflectors which serve as the mounting panels in such an installation of my socket assembly. The light bulb, of course, should be readily removable from the socket to facilitate quick replacement.

To this end I have invented a new and improved light socket assembly wherein the bulb is adapted to be quickly installed in the socket by bayonet slot means and a surrounding cap of rubber or like pliant material covers the socket in a manner suitable so that in its assembly with the mounting panel, light reflector or the like, there are substantially dust free joints between the: panel and socket and between the socket and incoming electrical supply conductor.

. On of the outstanding objects of my invention is to set forth a simple and economical socket assembly for small light bulbs or the like that is substantially dust proof.

A further object of my invention is to disclose a new and improved socket assembly for mounting small incandescent light bulbs or the like which is adapted conveniently to be mounted to a supporting panel or the like by a plurality of resilient snap-in members.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a snap-in type of socket assembly whereby a light bulb that it supports may be quickly inserted in and removed from the socket with a simple twisting action.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a socket assembly having a surrounding rubher or like material sealing cap or mantle whereby a dust tight junction with an incoming electrical supply lead and another dust tight junction with a mounting panel is provided.

These and further objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the following descriptive material. Now, in order to acquaint those familiar with this art, as to the mode of constructing and utilizing my invention I shall set forth a preferred embodiment thereof which will be readily understandable with reference to the following specifications and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of one type of socket member of my assembly divorced from its mounting panel, surrounding dust cap and incoming electrical connections;

Figure 2 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of my socket assembly with parts therein shown in full elevation as it normally appears in a mounted position on a mounting panel or the like and showing the electrical supply leads mounted therein;

Figure 3 is a left hand end view of the assembly shown in Figure 2 divorced from. the mounting panel.

Looking at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that a socket l0 therein illustrated comprises a metal barrel portion 'l'l rolled from a sheet of suitable resilient steel or the like. A dove-tail male projection 12 is formed along one longitudinal edge of the barrel portion H and is adapted to be received in a suitable female opening l3 therefor formed along the opposite longitudinal edge of the barrel portion I I whereby locking means is provided for locking the longitudinal edges of the barrel together to form a suitable cylindrical shape. After forming the barrel portion II and locking the mating edges thereof together, the left hand end thereof is split b'ackwardly at several places along the length of the barrel a suitable distance to form a corresponding plurality of resilient snap-in fingers l 5 for mounting the socket assembly to a panel 16 as illustrated in Figure 2. As herein illustrated, four such fingers l5 are provided; two or more of such fingers being preferred to insure positive mounting of my socket to the mounting panel. The fingers are bent outwardly from the barrel portion II at a suitable angle therewith and each finger is turned downwardly at its outer end toward the central longitudinal axis of the barrel to form a curved reentrant guiding lip 17 therein to act as a. guide means in inserting mounting panel I 6.

from each finger i5 and bent at right angular,

relation to the longitudinal axis of barrel f H to form stops whereby the insertion of the fingers through the mounting panel is suitably limited. 7

Cooperating pairs of L-shaped bayonet slots I9 are suitably formed on opposite sides of the barrel portion II intermediate adjacent fingers I5 to provide locking means for securely mounting a light bulb or the like, not shown, in the.

The "opposite end of the socket barrel II from Y that which is distinguished bythe snap-in fingers I 5, is characterized by a plurality of lugs 2!, turned inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the barrel portion II and at right angles to the latter. The lugs are provided for mounting and keeping one end of a socket coil spring 25, as shown in Figure 2, whereby that spring may be compressed slightly and maintained within the barrel portion I'l upon the insection of a light bulb in the socket. An incoming electrical supply conductor 26 is adapted to be inserted centrally between the lug 2! to lie along the longitudinal axis of the socket I9 within the core of spring 25, as shown in Figure 2. The outer or left hand end of conductor 25 is suitably swaged or soldered'to a brass rivet 2 1 or the like, which serves as a contact member for the light bulb, not shown. An insulating washer 2S surrounds rivet 2'! and is adaptedto; register approximately with the internal cross sectional area of the barrel II so as to act as a keeper for the left hand end of coil spring 25. Compressive loading of spring 25 serves to keep contact rivet 2'! securely against the butt end of the light bulb orthe like to insure good electrical contact therewith.

A- dust tight seal at the point of junction of the incoming conductor 26 with my socket assembly I this provided by means of a neoprene or rubber like outer sealing cap as which receives the conductorZS through a suitable opening therefor in its right hand end, as seen in Figure 2. Sealing cap 29 also surrounds and encloses barrel portion I I and part of the finger members I5; a forward sealing lip, 36 thereof formed as an outwardly fiared fiange serving to cover over the back side and upper edges of the stop lugs I8. Sealing lip 38 is further adapted to fit snugly against the mounting panel is to form a dust tight seal between my socket assembly Iii and the panel H5 in assembly therewith, as seen in Figure 2.

Mounting of my above described socket assembly to panel is is conveniently accomplished by providing that panel with a circular opening 3-5 of a diameter slightly less than that assumed by the outwardly bent snap-in fingers IE5, in their extended position. Upon insertion of fingers I5 in opening 35 of the panel, resilient compression of the fingers inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of my socket takes place. This latter feature allows the socket. to be resiliently snapped into mounted position on panel I6, but at the same time the gripping force between fingers I5 and the periphery of opening 35 is not of a magnitude to prevent easy extraction of my socket when it is desired to remove the same. In-

Y sertion of fingers I5 in panel I6 until stops I8 are in abutting engagement with the latter member, serves to compress lip 30 sumeiently to form the dust tight seal called for above. Thus it may be seen that I have provided and set forth a newand useful socket assembly adapted to be utilized with small incandescent light bulbs, or the like, having the desirable feature of a snap-in mounting means with a mounting panel or the like and distinguished by an outer dust tightsealing member-which provides-substantially dust free sealing between an incoming electrical conductor and between the socket and the mounting panel. Further the utilization of bayonet slot mounting means allows the insertion and removal of the incandescent light bulb in a quick and ready manner by a simple twistin 'action.

While I have herein shown and described one form and embodiment in which the features of myinvention may appear, it readilymay be seen that numerous changes, modifications, and substit-utions' of equivalents may be made without departing from the spirit and scope hereof and, therefore, I'do'not wish to be limited to the specific' embodiment herein. illustrate except as may. appear in the following appended claim. II claim:' 1 A socket'assembly for mounting an incan descent'li-ght bulb or the like to a mounting panel comprising in combination, a metal cylindrical barrel-portion adapted axially to receive a socket end of said'light bulb and lockingly retain the same therein, a plurality of resilient, separated snap-in fingers formed at one end of said barrel portion, said fingers diverging angularlyoutward from said barrels longitudinal axis and each comprising a segmental portion of said barrels cylindrical length, a downwardly turned curvilinear guide lip formed at the outer end of each of said fingers for guiding such into a mounting opening formed in said panel, a bayonet slot formed intermediate each of said fingers for locking engagement with said socket end of said light bulb, stop lug means formed integrally with each of said fingers and struck transversely outward therefrom so as to lie in normal relation to said barrels longitudinal axis, said lugs limiting the insertion of said fingers through said panel so said guide lips and stop lugs lie on opposite sides of said panel when said socket is mounted in said opening; additional lug means turned radially inward at the opposite end of said barrel to form a partial end closure therefor, a contact rivet mounted Within said barrel, ooaxially therewith and rigidly secured'at one end to an electrical supply conductor inserted into said barrels other end intermediate opposed ends of said additional lugs, an insulating washer surrounding a shank portion of said rivet, com municating with the internal walls of said barrel and covering over the transverse area thereof, said rivet, conductor and washer being slidingly movable along said barrels length; a pliant rubber dust cap covering the external surface of said barrel, encasing the outer ends of each of said stop lugs at one end of said barrel and protruding therebeyond to contact one face of said panel to form a dust tight seal therewith, when said socket is mounted in said opening, and additionally embracing said conductor at the opposite end of said barrel to form a second dust tight seal with the latter, and compressive spring means mounted within said barrel, coaxially with said rivet and conductor, and lying between said washer and said additional lugs whereby such resiliently resists the insertion of said socket end of a light bulb into said barrel and provides resilient means for holding said light bulb socket end in engagement with said bayonet slots.

HAROLD H. CLAYTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1901 

